Darlings,
I soloed the A.T. 6 today-the first one in our group too.
Boy! Am I happy. My new instructor is a prince. I have been so lucky, as far as instructors go. My new instructor’s name is William A. Messenger, Second Lieut. A.C. He is just like Antonucci, a regular fellow. He played football for the University of Arizona. Gosh! He’s a good egg!
Well, some more about the advanced trainer. This ship is rated as the best advanced trainer in the world. England uses them very effectively. That ship I soloed in had two machine guns mounted on it. Later on we are going to get hours of machine gun practice. We have the best gunnery instructors in the US stationed at this field. One of them is a veteran R.A.F. pilot, Wing Commander Donaldson, by name. He has 28 confirmed victories to his credit. He put on a show for us the other day with a P 40-boy! Can that guy fly. He did everything in the books. The main thing they stress here is coordination.
Without coordination your ability to fire a machine gun will do you no good. I just love flying this ship. Some of the boys have rough instructors-you can’t imagine how a poor instructor can affect your flying.
Well, darlings, we are rushed here more than ever. I will try to write as often as possible-
Your loving son,
Jim
Mother-
Will you send me the address of everyone I used to know. I lost my address book. You know-Gram Byrd, Hoagbergs, Haynes, Austin, Bobbie Blacktin, everybody-I would really appreciate it. I may send announcements someday.
Do you remember those fleece lined shoes I once had-I could really use those babies now-can you send them please?